8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 25, 2005

SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

1-13395	56-201079
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

6415 Idlewild Road, Suite 109 Charlotte, North Carolina	28212
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 566-2400

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On October 25, 2005, we issued a press release announcing the approval of a quarterly cash dividend.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

99.1     Press release of Sonic Automotive, Inc. dated October 25, 2005

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
By:	/s/ Stephen K. Coss
	Stephen K. Coss
	Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Dated: October 25, 2005

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release of Sonic Automotive, Inc. dated October 25, 2005

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. DECLARES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – October 25, 2005 – Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: SAH), a leader in automotive retailing, today announced that its Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share payable in cash for shareholders of record on December 15, 2005. The dividend will be payable January 15, 2006.

Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 300 company based in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States operating 177 franchises and 38 collision repair centers. Sonic can be reached on the Web at www.sonicautomotive.com.

Included herein is a forward-looking statement pertaining to an anticipated cash dividend to shareholders. There are many factors that affect management’s views about future events and trends of the company’s business. These factors involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results or trends to differ materially from management’s view, including without limitation, economic conditions, risks associated with acquisitions and the risk factors described in the company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. The company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information.